Brick Memorial tops Howell in state softball tournament

Several weeks ago, Brick Memorial was the victim of a five-inning, mercy-rule game against Howell. On Saturday, the Mustangs got revenge in the state tournament.

After Megan Lapinski scored on an Allison Slobiski single in the second inning, Sierra Culloo reached on an error and scored on Jordyn Rochinski's double in the fifth for the eventual game-winner as the No. 13 Mustangs (11-11) knocked off the No. 4 Rebels (14-7) in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Group IV tournament.

Jessica Bormann was solid in the circle, scattering seven hits and not allowing a run until the bottom of the seventh, when Paige Eckert swatted an RBI single to score Taylor Mennie. Bormann struck out four and walked four.

Brick Memorial managed a combined five hits off starter Alex Hartman, who threw the first 4 1/3 innings, and reliever Alexis Ruiz, but it was enough. Victoria Boughton had two of those hits, including a double, for Memorial. Jacquie Coulahan went 2-for-3 with a double for Howell.

JACKSON MEMORIAL 4, MONTGOMERY 1: The No. 5 Jaguars (17-4) erased a 1-0 deficit by scoring three times in the bottom of the fourth and advanced in Central Group IV. Teresa Carr began the rally with a double and scored on a double by winning pitcher Kara Molnar, who scored on a single by Sydney Calderon for a 2-1 lead. Calderon came in when Kayla Molnar was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-1. In the fifth, Carr, who went 2-for-3, capped the scoring with a solo homer to left. Kara Molnar allowed five hits and walked one for the victory.

KEANSBURG 14, SOUTH AMBOY 6: Aimee Ascolese, who went 2-for-3, drilled a three-run homer as part of a five-run top of the first and the No. 11 Titans (11-8) never looked back as they cruised through the first round in Central Group II. Lexi Espino went 4-for-4 with 3 RBI and Casey Kaiser ended up 2-for-3, while winning pitcher Bobbie Burdick gave up six hits and fanned two. Keansburg scored three in the third to extend its lead to 9-2, as Espino scored on an error and Ashley Andalora and Stephanie Walters scored on another error.

PINELANDS 10, WESTAMPTON TECH 0: Winning pitcher Naomi Stas fired a two-hitter while striking out 13 and walking none, and she, Stephanie Healy and Corinne Huber each went 2-for-4 as the No. 3 Wildcats (23-2) rolled into the quarterfinals of South Group III. Pinelands scored once in the first for the only run it needed, then added two in the fourth and seven in the sixth to end the contest.

A.L. JOHNSON 6, HOLMDEL 3: Aimee Mnich went 2-for-3 with 2 RBI, and the Hornets (12-12) managed three runs in the top of the fifth, but Johnson tallied three in the bottom of the sixth to win the Central Group II contest. In the fifth, Holmdel got on the scoreboard when Aishawarya Kalyanaraman walked and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kristen Buscema, before April Licato walked and Mattie Milkowski reached on an error to allow Kalyanaraman to score. Mnich then swatted a two-run single to tie the game.

EWING 4, RED BANK 1: After Jess Scotti belted an RBI single to score Briana Calabrese with the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth, Ewing came back with four in the bottom of the inning to score the victory over the No. 14 Bucs (13-10) in Central Group III. Kaylee Hartman went 3-for-4 for Red Bank.

HILLSBOROUGH 8, COLTS NECK 2: The No. 16 Cougars (2-15) trailed by seven heading into the sixth before they scored their only runs, as the Raiders' Katie Gademsky fanned 10 for the victory in Central Group IV. Natale Benkert doubled in the Cougars' first run and scored the second.